Powder 8 Local Qualifier: Lineup, Look Back and Results

This is What Second Place Looks Like: Jeff Leger & Tanner Flannagan Powder 8’ing in Pretty-Much-Perfect Synch

After laying dormant for 15 years, a most-beloved ski tradition, The Powder 8, made its triumphant return to the Tetons yesterday on a stormy Jackson Hole morning. Christened with a foot of fresh snow from the past couple days, 44 skiers combining to form 22 teams, headed for the hills via an 8:24 am tram bound for Bernie’s Bowl. Despite the weather backup location move from the intended Cody Bowl to Bernies, the eventful day proved a grand old time had by all.

JHSC Skier Team Kristan Waddle and Jenny Allen Wait to Start While The Rest of the Powder 8 Teams Watch Above Bernie’s

In a swift, sprinted, snowy and somewhat socked-in hour and half, the skiers and event organizers realized the continued legacy of a classic on-hill Powder 8 competition in true Jackson Hole form. The locals-only pre-qualifier event to February’s final TheGrand National Powder 8, was loaded with technically sound and stylish skiers making for one fine day in the 50th year of JHMR.

The in-bounds venue, another regular Powder 8 comp host site throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, saw an impressive lineup of 22 teams ski with ease, grace, and plenty of steeze. Certainly synch is the name of the game as per Powder 8 standards, but the Jackson Hole locs, in some cases- went above-and-beyond (per tradition) in the ‘matchy-match’ sense. Enthusiastic spectators and judges saw one pieces, jean jackets and jet suits galore.

Teams young and old, co-ed, all female, and all- twin (for reals) strutted their stuff one-by-one before the careful eye of selected judges well versed in the art of 8. Skiers representing The Jackson Hole Ski Club and St. Lawrence University Ski Team Alums to a duo representing Powder Magazine and the prerequisite Jackson Hole Air Force (hello Captail Benny Wilson and ‘Dave the Wave’!!) lined up atop their lottery-designated lane and skied their hearts out to the tune of 20-plus turns much to their own visible delight.

Powder 8 proved the best of days at JHMR. All were inspired and excited by the throwback and consequently threw down a healthy and fun competition. Thanks to Jackson Hole Ski Patrol for the inspiration and bringing the safety – All personnel who touched the P8 from Lifts to Race Crew to Judges. And of course the Powder 8 Locals for bringing this special version of ski spirit dating from ’71 back into this 50th season for all to watch and share in the fun.

Congratulations to everyone, especially the top 7 teams – all of whom are going on to the Grand National Powder 8 next month. These top-finishers will go head-to-head with invited teams from around the Rocky Mountains in the Grand National representing the best of what Jackson Hole has to offer. Long live the Powder 8 and see you February 6 in Cody Bowl!

All photos: Amy Jimmerson

Place

Lane #

Team

Total

1

10

Halsey Hewson & Chris Denny

194

2

20

Jeff Leger & Tanner Flannagan

187

3

19

AJ Puccia & Brendan Levine

184

4

17

Ethan Valenstein & Sam Sehnert

183

5

21

Bart Flynn & George Flynn

177

6

13

Capt. Benny Wilson & Dave the Wave

170

7

22

Brigid Horigan & Sarah Felton

169

8

3

Kristan Waddle & Jenny Allen

160

9

16

Paul Velte & Jeb Stuart

159

10

12

Rick Hunt & Jon Hunt

147

11

18

Shannon Owens & Christian Cisco

136

12

9

Cassandra Lee & Patrick Brennan

126

13

0

Drew Kneeland & Kyle MacDowell, JHSP 118

14

8

Zach Simon &Mike MacDonald

116

15

5

Prudence Daniels & Sofie Danforth

115

16

4

Rob DesLauriers & Kit DesLauriers

113

17

14

Ana Rode & Lori Roux

111

18

11

Bill Allen &Morgan Carrig

94

19

2

Wes Lucas & Steve Zelikovitz

93

20

7

Eric Jacobson & Dave Blatt

90

21

15

John Verdon &Matt Hansen

86

22

1

John Grant & Lisa Grant

64

23

6

Rachel Levitz & Lauren Roux

0

P.S. STAY TUNED: Fans can continue to tune-in to ‘The Ledge’ on the morning snow phone line -meanwhile he will be training for the Feb 6th showdown.